Payment of Claims.

   Section 42.   No warrant for the payment of any claim shall be issued by the director of finance and public record until such claim shall have been approved by the mayor, and the mayor and his sureties shall be liable to the city for all loss or damage sustained by the city by reason of the negligent or corrupt approval of any claim against the city by him. Whenever any claim shall be presented to the director of finance and public record he shall have power to require evidence that the amount claimed is justly due and that such claim is in conformity to law and ordinance. For that purpose the director of finance and public record may summon before him any officer, agent, or employee of any department, or any other person, and examine him upon oath or affirmation relative thereto, which oath or affirmation he may administer.

   If the director of finance and public record shall draw a warrant for any claim contrary to law or ordinance he and his sureties shall be individually liable for the amount thereof.